Steam-trap.



B. L. CLOVER.

STEAM TRAP. APPLICATION FILED DEC. 7. 1912. 1,15,912= Patented Feb. 13,1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

WIIIIIIAVIIIII B. L. CLOVER.

STEAM TRAP.

APPLlCATlON FILED DEC. 7. 1912.

Patented Feb. 13, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WTTED @TA BENTON L. CLOVER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

STEAM-TRAP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 13, 1917.

Application filed December 7, 1912. Serial No. 735,576.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENTON L. CLOVER, a citizenof the United States, anda resident of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in oteam-Traps, of whichthe following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The invention relates to steam traps for collecting and discharging thecondensation from steam pipes and more particularly to that type ofsteam trap employing a displacement chamber or float in the trap foropening and closing the discharge valve. In traps of this sort, it isextremely difficult to obtain a satisfactory intermittent operation ofthe trap since the valve operating mechanism, if properly set to openthe valve when the vessel is full, will .act to close the valve beforethe contents of the vessel is properly discharged. The present inventionseeks to provide a sluggish or slow operating float which will maintainthe discharge valve open until the contents of the trap vessel areproperly discharged and which float is hollow and adapted to hold watercondensed from the steam, but which is provided with means forpreventing the accumulation of sediment therein. The invention alsoseeks to provide an improved means for adjusting or regulating theoperation of the valve operating float so that the trap may be readilyand nicely adapted for steam systems of difierent pressures. Theinvention also seeks to otherwise improve the construction of the trapand consists in the features of construction hereinafter set forth,illustrated in the preferred form in the accompanying drawings and moreparticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical section of the improved trap.Figs. 2 and 3 are detail sections on the lines 2 2 and 3--3,respectively, of Fig. 1. Fig. t is a vertical section on the line l4[ ofFig. 1. Fig. 5 is a detail section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1. Fig. (l isa view illustrating a modification of the counterbalancing means for thedisplacement chamber or float.

The improved trap comprises a. cylindrical vessel 10 of cast iron havinga dished integral bottom 11 and supporting feet 12. The bottom ispreferably provided at its center with a clean-out opening 13 which isnormally closed by a. plug l-l. On one side near the bottom surface thetrap vessel is provided with a port 15 adapted to be connected to ablow-otl pipe 16. At one side intermediate the upper and lower ends thevessel is provided with an inlet port 17 which receives the condensationfrom the steam pipes through an inlet pipe 18. A ballie 19, arcshaped insection, is arranged within the interior of the vessel 10 and en tendsover the inlet pipe 17. The bafiie is preferably cast integral with thewalls of the vessel 10 and forms a vertical passage 20 therein which isopen at its upper and lower ends. This baffle prevents the fluctuationof the pressure in the steam system from interfering with the properoperation of the trap.

The upper end of the vessel is closed by a domeshaped cover 21 which isheld in position by a series of bolts 2:2 which pass through flange 23on the upper end of the vessel and through a flange 24: on the lowerportion of the cover. The upper face of the flange 23 is recessed at adistance from its outer edge to form a seat for a gasket 25 and theflange 24 is provided with a cooperating annular shoulder 26 arranged toengage the gasket, and form a tight joint between the body of the vesseland its cover.

At its lower side portion opposite the inet port 17, the vessel 10 isprovided with a large rectangular boss 27 having a large circularopening 28 therein. A cap-piece 29 fits over the boss 27 and is held inplace by bolts 30. The cap is provided with a. bore or passage 31 thatcommunicates with a discharge pipe 32. The face of the boss 27 isprovided with a circular recess for a gasket and the inner face of thecap-piece 29 is provided with an annular shoulder 8d which is arrangedto engage the gasket and form a tight joint between the cap 29 and thebodv of the vessel 10.

The inner end of the bore or passage 31 is preferably slightly enlargedand is arranged to receive removable piece 35 of hardened steel having adischarge port 36 extending therethrough and a seat at the inner end ofthe discharge port for an inwardly opening valve 37. The valve 37 is inthe form of a plug removably mounted within a socket in a short valvestem 38, the valve being secured to the stem by a pin 39. The valve stemis guided within a hub 40 formed upon the central. portion of an iuwaterof condensation collected in the trap vessel. reaches the discharge port36, through a series of perforations 413 formed in the body of thespider ll. Preferably, also, the valve stem 38 is cut away or grooved toform passages ll (see Fig. 8) between it and the inner surface of thehub il. This construction also prevents the valve stem from sticking.

The valve is provided with an operating or shifter arm 45. This arm iselbow shaped and is provided with an outer, upturned,

forked end 46, the members of which overlap an inwardly projecting lugl7 on the end of the valve stem 38 and an inwardly projecting lug 48 onthe spider l1. Cotter pins l9 and 50 pivotally connect the shifter armto the lugs 4-7 and 18. The opening 51 in the lug L7 through which thecotter pin 49 extends, is elongated in vertical direction, as shown inFig. 1, so that the valve stem and valve can be shifted in a straightline to and from the valve seat as the shifter arm is swung upon itspivot pin 50.

The movement of the shifter arm and the discharge valve are controlledby a displacement vessel or float 'This float is of heavy construction,is formed of cast iron and is provided with a closed bottom. The

portion 53 of the float, opposite the baffle 19,

is preferably inwardly oll'set, as shown; The upper end of the float isclosed by a loose fitting dome-shaped cover 5 1. This cover is providedwitha depending flange which lits loosely within the upper end of thefloat and which is provided with a series of perforated lugs 56.Cotterpins 57 extending through the upperedge portions of the float andthe perforated lugs 56 secure the cover to'the body of the float.Preferably, also, as shown, the cover is providedrwith a horizontallyprojecting flange 58 which overlaps the upper edge of the body of thefloat,

but which is spaced therefrom by a series of i V lugs 59. The covereffectually prevents the collection of sediment within the float whichmight overweight the float and interfere with its proper operation, butinasmuch as the cover is a loose fit, steam condenses within thedisplacement chamber or float, so that it is normally aboutthree-quarters full of liquid, as indicated inrFig. 1.

At its lower end, the float is provided with a transverse passage, thewalls of which are preferably cast integral with the walls of the float.As shown, this passage 60 has side walls 61, a top wall '62 and a bottomwall which is divided by alongitudinal slot into two flanges or ledges63. The shifter arm 4-?) for the discharge valve extends through thepassage and suitable adjustable connecting means are provided betweenthe walls of the passage and the shifter arm. In the preferredconstruction shown, a fulcrum block 64- is mounted upon the arm and isprovided with rounded upper and lower ends which are arrai-iged to beengaged by the upper and lower walls, respectively, of the transversepassage in the float to thereby open and close the discharge valve. Thefulcrum block (3-1 is provided with a central opening through which thearmflo extends and a'cotter pin (35 extends through these parts to holdthe fulcrum block in position. As shown, the arm 45 is provided with alongitudinal series of holes 66 to re ceive the cotter pin so that thefulcrum block may be adjusted and secured in ad'- usted position uponthe arm. In this way,

the leverage exerted by the displacement chamber or float upon thedischarge valve can be nicely regulated in accordance with the pressureof the steam system with which the trap is used. V V V The displacementchamber or floatis heavy or sluggish in action and means are orovidedfor counterbalancin its wei ht. 1 b V 351 AS shown, the float cover 5%1s pro-vloed.

with an upwardly projecting lug G7 which is pivoted to the forkedend ofa rock arm 68. This rock arm is arranged to move u and down in a cavityformed within a raised portion 69 of the cover 21. Thehub of the rockarm is providedwith asquare opening arranged to engage the. innersquared portion '70 of a rock shaftil. This rock shaft isjournaled'within a bushing mounted in the side of theprojecting portion(59 of the cover andpreferablyflhe ex: treme inner end of the shaft issupported within a'seat 73 formed in the side wallof= the part'69. Trisshown, the-bushing TQ is provided with a reduced, inner end portion 74which is threaded into an opening formed 1n the part 69 and the latter1S 7 provided with a flange 7 5 which overlaps the bushing,

as most clearly'shown inllig. 5. am arm" 7 6 is mounted upon theflattened, outer-end of. the rock shaft 71 (see'FigI lland a weight 77is adjustably secured to the "arm' 7 6 by a set'screw 7 8 totherebycounterbah her or Heat 52. V V

The use ofa stufling. box about the rock ance the weight of thedisplacementchamshaft His-apt to'interfere withthe proper operationofthe steam trap. To obviate the necessity of employing a stufling box,the

enlargedpart 7 0 at ithe inner end of the rock shaft is provided with aconical valvelike shoulder 79 which is arranged to engage a valve seatabout the rock shaft. This valve seat is preferably formed upon a washerthrough which the shaft 71 extends and which abuts against the inner endface of the bushing 72. The abutting faces of the shoulder and bushingare machined, so that they snugly fit one upon the other. The opening inthe washer is preferably slightly larger than the shaft 71. Theconstruction is such that if the bearing of the shaft in the bushing 72wears, the washer 80 can adjust itself upon the inner end face of thebushing, so that there will always be a tight joint between thevalve-like shoulder 79 and the washer 80 to prevent leaking around therock shaft.

Ordinarily, the pressure of steam within the trap will be suflicient tohold the valvelike shoulder 79 snugly in engagement with its seat on thewasher 80, but to secure a snug engagement with low pressures, a springmay be employed, if desired. This spring 81 is arranged in a recess 82in the outer reduced end of the bushing 72 and eX- tends between theinner end of the recess and a collar 83 which is fixed to the shaft by ascrew 84.

Instead of counterbalancing the weight of the displacement chamber orfloat 52 with a weighted lever, a heavy torsion spring may be employed.Such a spring 85 is shown in Fig. 6. The spring is coiled about the rockshaft 71, is connected at its inner end to the bushing 7 2 and at itsouter end to a collar 86 which is adjustably fixed to the shaft by a setscrew 87. By adjusting the collar, the tension of the spring 85 may beadjusted to properly counterbalance the weight of the float.

As shown, the extreme upper portion of the part 69 of the cover ispreferably provided with a port controlled by a vent cock 88.Preferably, also, the upper portion of the cover is connected to thedischarge passage 31 of the cap-piece 29 by a vent pipe comprisingvertical and horizontal portions 89 and 90 connected by an elbow 91. Avalve 92 is interposed in the vertical por tion 90 of the vent pipe andthe horizontal portion thereof is preferably formed of two sectionsconnected by a union coupling 93.

In operation, as stated, steam is condensed within the displacementchamber or float 52 so that the latter contains considerable water andheavy and sluggish in operation. The discharge valve 37 is held to itsseat by the float and by the internal pressure within the closed trapvessel. The weight of the float and of the water contained thereinis'nearly counterbalanced by the adjustable weight 77 on the arm 76, orby the torsion spring 85 shown in Fig. 6, which are connected to thefloat through the medium of the rock shaft 71 and the rock arm 68. Asthe condensed water accumulates in the steam system, it gradually fillsthe vessel 10 until the float 52 is lifted to open the discharge valve.The pressure within the vessel then quickly forces the condensation outthrough the discharge port 36 and the rush of liquid through the lowerportion of the trap operates to effectively carry away the greateramount of any collected sediment. The float is heavy and sluggish andits weight is nicely counterbalanced, so that it holds the valve openuntil the greater portion of the condensed water collected therein isdischarged. The valve is then closed and the oprn'ation is repeated, sothat an effective, intermittent action is maintained. In order that thisaction ma be conveniently watched, the trap is preferably provided witha sight glass 94: (see Fig. 1) which is connected to ported bosses 95 atthe upper and lower ends of the vessel 10 through the medium of theusual valves 96. The discharge of liquid from the trap acts in aneffective manner to sweep away the greater portion of any sedimentcollected. From time to time the trap may be blown off through the pipe16.

The improved trap can be readily adapted to properly operate withdifferent steam pressures by adjusting the counterbalancing means forthe displacement chamber or float 52 and by adjusting the fulcrum block641 to properly regulate the leverage of the float upon the dischargevalve. With high pressures, the leverage of the float upon the valvewill need to be increased by shifting the fulcrum block 6 1 nearer theouter end of the arm t. l Vith lower pressures, the fulcrum block shouldbe adjusted in the opposite direction. Furthermore, the valve 37 andvalve seating member 35 can be readily removed from the stem 38 and thecappicce 29 and replaced by a larger or smaller valve and valve seat, asmay be required for lower or higher pressures. The improved trap issimple in construction, can be readily assembled and taken apart forrepairs and the like and is not liable to get out of order. Inassembling the parts the rock arm and float cover are secured within thecover 21 by means of the rock shaft 71. The float 62 is then secured tothe float cover by the cotter pins 57 and the cover 21 is placed uponthe vessel 10 and secured thereto by the bolts 22. The walls of thevessel 10 prevent the displacement of the cotter pins 57. The valve andvalve operating shifter arm are mounted upon and are held in place bythe cap-piece 29 and are readily accessible upon removing this part. Theconnection between the shifter arm and the operating float is formed bypassing the arm and fulcrum block thereon into the passage 60 in thelower end of the float. The lower wall I tially as described.

of this passage is slotted so that the arm 45 may pass between theledges or shoulders 63 when the float is at the upper end of itsmovement. These parts may, of course, be readily disengaged from thefloat by removing the cap-piece 29.

It is obvious that numerous changes may be made without departure fromthe essentials of the invention as defined in the claims.

I claim as my invention 1. In a steam trap, the combination of a closedvessel having an opening in the lower portion of its side wall, a valvesupporting member removably held in place at said opening, an inwardlyopening valve and an inwardly extending valve-operating arm mounted onsaid supporting member, a float in said vessel, means mounted at theupper portion of'said vessel and connected to said float forcounter-balancing the same, and means adjustably connecting said arm andfloat in vertical direction only, said arm being removable in lateraldirection with said valve supporting member, substantially as described.

'2. In asteam trap, the combination of a closed vessel having adischarge port at its lower portion, a valve controlling said port, ashifter arm for said valve, a fulcrum block adjustably mounted on saidarm, and a float in said vessel having abutments arranged to engage saidfulcrum block in its different adjusted positions to open and close saidvalve, said abutments being spaced apart in vertical direction to permitthe lateral insertion and removal of said arm and fulcrum block,substantially as described.

3. In a steam trap, the combination of a closed vessel having an openingin the lower portion of its side wall, a valve-supporting memberremovably held in place at said opening, an inwardly opening valve andan inwardly extendiiw, horizontal shifter arm for said valve mountedupon said valve support, a coimter-balance' float suspended in saidvessel and having a transverse passage at it lower portion through whichsaid arm extends, and adjustable means interposed be tween said arm andthe upper and lower walls of said passage for operatively conmeetingsaid arm and float in outward direction only, said arm being removablein lateral direction from said passage,substan- Al. In a steam trap, thecombination of a closed vessel having a discharge port at itslowerportion, a valve controlling said port, ahOrizontally disposedshifter arm for said valve, a fulcrum block adjustably mounted 011 saidarm, and a float suspended in said vessel and having a transversepassage at its lower portion through which said arm and fulcrum blockare adapted to be inserted and removed, the upper and lower walls ofsaid passage being arranged to engage said fulcrum block to shift saidarm and open and close said valve, substantially as described.

In a steam trap, the comblnatlon-of' a closed vessel having an openingin its side wall adjacent its lower end, a valvesupporting memberremovably secured in place over said opening, a'valve mounted on saidsupporting member and opening inwardly against the pressure in saidvessel, a float in said vessel, means connected to the'upper end of saidfloat for sustaining the same in position in said vessel, adjustabledevices connected to said suspending means for counter-ha]ancing theweight of said float, a shifter arm for said valve mounted on saidvalve-supporting member and extending in wardly therefrom, andadjustable means for connecting said arm to said float in vertical saidrockshaft within said vessel, a float V suspended from said crank armand connected tosaid valve actuatmgarm invertical direction only, andmeans connected to w the outer end of said rock shaft forcounterbalancing the weight of said float, substantially as described. I

7. In a steam trap, the combination of a vessel open at its upper endand having an opening in the lower portion of its side wall, a coverplate for closing the open upper end of said vessel, a valve supportingand guiding member removably fixed in position over said opening, avalve guided in said member and opening inwardly against the pressure insaid vessel, an L-shaped lever arm pivoted on said guide andhavmg ap1nand-slot coniea nection with said valve, a fulcrum block ad,ustablymounted on said lever arm, a float;

adapted to be" inserted in said vessel through its open upper end, andmeans mounted in the upper portionofsaid vessel and'connected to theupper end of said float for suspending and 'oounterbalancing the same,said float havingabutments arranged to engage said fulcrum'fblock toopen and 7 close said valve, said abutments bemg spaced apart to permitthe lateral insertion and removalof said arm and. said fulcrum block,substantially as described. 7 1

8. Ina steam trap,:the combination of a closed vessel having an openingin the lower portion of its side wall, a cap-p'iecesecured tosaidvessel, extending over'saidopening v and having a dischargeportjtherein, a supporting guide member held in place between saidcap-piece and the wall of said vessel, an inwardly opening valvesupported by said guide and controlling said port, a horizontal armprovided with an upturned end pivoted to said guide and having apin-and-slot connection with said valve, anda counterbalanced floatsuspended in said vessel and having abutments above and below said armfor shifting the same to open and close said valve, substantially asdescribed.

9. In a steam trap, the combination of a closed vessel having adischarge port at its lower portion, a valve controlling said port, ahollow float adapted to contain condensation and operatively connectedto said valve, a deflecting guard cover loosely fitting the upper end ofsaid float, a rock shaft jour naled in the upper portion of said vesseland extending into the chamber within the same, a rock arm on said shaftand within the chamber of said vessel, said float cover being connectedto and suspended from said rock arm, means connecting said float to saidcover to thereby suspend the same from said cover, and counter-balancingmeans connected to the outer end of said rock shaft,

substantially as described.

10. In a steam trap, the combination of a vessel having a discharge portat its lower end, a valve controlling said port, a hollow float adaptedto contain condensation operatively connected to said valve, a covermounted on and closing the open upper end of said vessel, a rock shaft journaled in said cover and extending into the chamber witl in saidvessel, counter-balancing means connected to the outer end of saidshaft, a rock arm on said shaft and within the chamber of said vessel, afloat cover plate pivotally connected to and suspended from said rockarm, said float being connected to and suspended from said cover plate,substantially as described.

11. In a steam trap, the combination of a vessel open at its top andhaving an opening in its side wall adjacent its bottom, avalvesupporting member secured in place at said opening, a valve and aninwardly extending valve-operating arm mounted on said supportingmember, a cover plate for closing the upper end of said vessel, a floatin said vessel, the walls of said float having abutments above and belowsaid arm and cooperating therewith to open and close said valve, andmeans on said cover plate for suspending and counterbalancing saidfloat, said valve and valve-operating arm being removable laterally fromsaid vessel with said valve-supporting member, and said float beingremovable vertically from the vessel with said cover plate,substantially as described.

12. In a steam trap, the combination with an open top vessel having aninlet port in opening, a valve and a valve-operating arm mounted on saidsupporting member, a hollow float in said vessel adapted to containcondensation, and having abutments above and below said arm andcooperating therewith to open and close said valve, a cover for closingthe open upper end of said vessel, a rock shaft journaled in said coverand extending into the chamber within said vessel, an arm on the innerend of said shaft connected to said float, an adjustablecounter-balancing means connected to the outer end of said shaft,substantially as described.

18. In a steam trap, the combination of a vessel open at its upper endand having an opening in its side wall adjacent its lower end, a capplate extending over said opening and having a discharge port therein, aguide held in place by said cap plate, an inwardly opening valve mountedin said guide and arranged to control said. discharge port, avalve-operating lever mounted on said guide and extending inwardlytherefrom, a chambered cover plate closing the upper end of said vessel,a rock shaft journaled in said cover plate and extending into thechamber thereof, counter-balancing means connected to the outer end ofsaid rock shaft, an arm on the inner end of said shaft and within thechamber of said cover, a hollow float, adapted to contain condensation,suspended from said arm, and means for connecting the lower portion ofsaid float and said arm arranged to permit the lateral insertion andremoval of said arm, substantially as described.

14L In a steam trap, the combination of a vessel open at its upper endand having an opening in its side wall adjacent its bottom, a supportingmember secured in place at said opening, a valve and an inwardlyextending valve operating arm mounted on said supporting member, achambered cover plate for closing the open upper end of said vessel, afloat in said vessel having abutments above and below said arm andcooperating therewith to open and close said valve, a rock shaftjournaled in said cover and extending into the chamber thereof,counter-balancing means connected to the outer end of said shaft and arock arm on said shaft within said cover connected to and suspendingsaid float, said valve and valveoperating arm being removable laterallyfrom the vessel with said valve supporting member and said float beingremovable vertically from said vessel with said cover plate,substantially as described.

15. In a steam trap, the combination of a vessel having an opening inits lower portion, a valve and a valve seat removably held in place atsaid opening, a counter-balanced float suspended in said vessel, a valveactuating arm cooperating with said float and means for varying theleverage of said float upon said valve, said arm being movable throughsaid opening into and out of coopcrative relation with said float.

16. In a steam trap, the combination of a vessel open at its upper endand having an opening in the lower portion of its side wall, a coverplate for closing the open upper end of said vessel, an inwardly openingvalve and valve seat removably mounted in position at said opening. acounter-balanced float suspended from said cover plate, an arm interposed between said valve and the lower end of said float, aid armbeing laterally movable through said opening and into and out ofcooperative relation with said float and means associated with said armfor varying the leverage of said float upon said valve. 7 r V r 17. In asteam trap, the combination of a vessel open at its top and havinganopening in its side wall adjacent its bottom, a valve and a valve seatremovably secured in place at said opening, an inwardly extending valveoperating arm, a cover plate for closing the upper end of said vessel, acounterbalanced float suspended in said vessel the walls of said floathaving abutments above and below said arm and cooperating therewith toopen and close said valve, said valve and said valve operating arm beingremovable laterally from said vessel through said opening and said floatbeing removable vertically from said vessel through its open upper end.

BENTON L. CLOVER.

Witnesses HARRY L. CLArr, KATHARINE GERLAOH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. V

